Kc. Williams et al., PECAM-1 (CD31) EXPRESSION IN THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM AND ITS ROLE IN EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN THE RAT, Journal of neuroscience research, 45(6), 1996, pp. 747-757
The role of T cell activation associated adhesion molecules on lymphoc
yte traffic and the initiation of inflammation has received considerab
le attention. This study, using a new monoclonal antibody (mAb) TLD-3A
12, describes the distribution of PECAM-1 (CD31), an Ig supergene fami
ly adhesion molecule thought to be important in leukocyte transmigrati
on during inflammation, in rat lymphoid organs and spinal cord, PECAM
expression within the CNS is confined to endothelial cells of the bloo
d brain barrier (BBB), Induction of inflammation within the CNS using
the adoptive transfer of myelin reactive CD4(+) T cells results in the
de novo expression of immune adhesion and accessory molecules in the
spinal cord, while the level of PECAM appeared only mildly increased.
The distribution of PECAM on CNS endothelial cells became more diffuse
during EAE induction, possibly the result of endothelial cell activat
ion, In vitro studies demonstrate a partial inhibition of antigen-spec
ific CD4(+) T cell proliferation following anti-PECAM mAb treatment, T
reatment of Lewis rats with TLD-3A12 antibody prior to T cell injectio
n and throughout EAE induction does not result in a delay in the onset
of clinical signs or weight loss, nor does it decrease the incidence
and severity of disease, These data suggest that the expression of PEC
AM by CNS endothelial cells is not a requirement for the initiation of
inflammation and clinical signs of EAE following the adoptive transfe
r of encephalitogenic lymphocytes, Thus, cells requiring PECAM-1 to mi
grate and perform their pathogenic functions are not critical to the d
evelopment of rat EAE. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.